Official launch for first town business awards

Business and civic leaders gathered on the town’s pier to celebrate the occasion on Friday.

The awards are organised by the Skegness Partnership, with the recipients due to be announced at a ceremony in November.

In addition to an overall winner, awards will be presented for categories including best attraction, accommodation, customer care, new business, green business and young employee.

Speaking at the launch event Skegness Partnership secretary Judy Chapman described the awards as a ‘first’ for the town.

She said: “There has never before been a business awards in Skegness.

“The reason for it now is that there are so many fantastic businesses in the town producing innovative products, coming up with progressive ideas and creating a lot of jobs - there are so many superlatives.”

She added: “I did not realise quite how many fantastic companies there are in a place like this, we want to reward success and give them some recognition. I really hope to get the town’s businesses featuring more in the media.”

Carolyn Wilkinson, director of Skegness Pier, the main award sponsor, said: “With Skegness Pier being one of the major landmarks in the area, we thought it would be appropriate to sponsor the awards.

“We want to support local businesses and to improve their profile.”

She added: “Hopefully the awards will promote business es in Skegness and give them an opportunity to come to the fore.”

The business awards are the latest initiative by the Skegness Partnership to promote the town.

The organisation has a new management board and working groups with links to local business and community groups.